Ecuador Travel requirements, advice , Coronavirus status and Visa Policy

2023-06-22 16:19:03

Ecuador is located in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is a developing country. Current Travel Advice to visitors travelling to Ecuador is Exercise Increased Caution. Check Ecuador Travel Advisory, visa Requirements below.



Travel advice and advisories

Published 04.05.2022
1. Passengers must have:
- a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they were fully vaccinated at least 14 days before departure; or
- a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test taken at most 72 hours before departure.
- This does not apply to:
- passengers younger than 3 years;
- passengers with a positive COVID-19 test taken at most 30 days before departure. They must have a medical certificate issued by a medical practitioner specifying that they do not have any COVID-19 symptoms.
2. Passengers must complete the "Declaracion de salud del viajero" and present it upon arrival. The form can be found at https://declaracionsalud-viajero.msp.gob.ec/
3. Passengers are subject to medical screening.
4. Passengers could be subject to a COVID-19 antigen test upon arrival.
- This does not apply to passengers younger than 14 years.
5. Passengers could be subject to quarantine for up to 14 days.


Travel Advisory By USA

Thu, 22 Jun 2023

Reissued with updates to the kidnapping indicator and crime information in the provinces of El Oro, Manabí, Santo Domingo, Los Rios, Santa Elena, Cañar, and Carchi.

Exercise increased caution in Ecuador due to civil unrest, crime, and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Reconsider travel to:

  • Guayaquil north of Portete de Tarquí Avenue due to crime.
  • El Oro province outside the cities of Huaquillas and Arenillas, due to crime.
  • Los Rios province outside the cities of Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo, due to crime.
  • All areas south of Esmeraldas city in Esmeraldas province, due to crime.
  • The provinces of Sucumbíos, Manabí, Santa Elena, and Santo Domingo due to crime.

Do not travel to:

  • Guayaquil, south of Portete de Tarquí Avenue, due to crime.
  • The cities of Huaquillas and Arenillas in the province of El Oro, due to crime.
  • The cities of Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo in the province of Los Rios, due to crime.
  • Esmeraldas city and all areas north of Esmeraldas city in Esmeraldas province, due to crime.

Country Summary: Crime is a widespread problem in Ecuador. Violent crime, such as murder, assault, kidnapping, and armed robbery, is prevalent and widespread. The rate of violent crime is significantly higher in areas where transnational criminal organizations are concentrated.

Demonstrations occur frequently throughout the country, usually motivated by political and/or economic factors.  Demonstrators routinely block local roads and major highways, often without prior notice. Past demonstrations have varied in duration, with some extending for several days or weeks. Blocked roads may significantly reduce access to public transportation, health services, and airports and may disrupt travel both within and between cities.

Outside of Ecuador’s urban and semi-urban population centers, much of the country’s territory is sparsely populated and isolated. First responders’ and U.S. government officials’ access to rural and remote regions of the country is often extremely limited and can lead to significant delays in assistance to U.S. citizens in these areas.

Read the country information page for additional information on traveling to Ecuador.

If you decide to travel to Ecuador:

Level 4: Do Not Travel

Guayaquil, south of Portete de Tarquí Avenue, due to crime.

The cities of Huaquillas and Arenillas in the Province of El Oro, due to crime.

The cities of Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo in the province of Los Rios, due to crime.

Esmeraldas city and all areas north of Esmeraldas city in Esmeraldas province, due to crime.

Transnational criminal groups and local gangs regularly engage in violent criminal acts in these areas, including indiscriminate attacks without warning in public spaces. Violent crimes have included murder, targeted assassinations, armed robberies, bombings, kidnappings, and assaults, among others. Violence in these areas has steadily increased in frequency and brutality in recent months, posing an increased security risk to U.S. citizens. U.S. government personnel are prohibited from traveling to these areas without prior authorization. As a result, the U.S. government is limited in its ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in these areas.

Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Guayaquil north of Portete de Tarquí Avenue, due to crime.

El Oro province outside the cities of Huaquillas and Arenillas, due to crime.

Los Rios province outside the cities of Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo, due to crime.

All areas south of Esmeraldas city in Esmeraldas province, due to crime.

The provinces of Sucumbíos, Manabí, Santa Elena, and Santo Domingo, due to crime.

Transnational criminal groups and local gangs have sporadically engaged in violent criminal activity in these areas, with violence increasing in recent months. U.S. government personnel are directed to exercise extreme caution and maintain increased vigilance when traveling in and around these areas. 

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.


Visa Policy for Visitors travelling to Ecuador

Visa required

  • Afghanistan
  • Angola
  • Bangladesh
  • Cameroon
  • Congo [DRC]
  • Congo [Republic]
  • Côte d'Ivoire
  • Cuba
  • Egypt
  • Eritrea
  • Ethiopia
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea
  • Haiti
  • India
  • Iraq
  • Kenya
  • Libya
  • Mali
  • Myanmar [Burma]
  • Nepal
  • Nigeria
  • North Korea
  • Pakistan
  • Philippines
  • Senegal
  • Somalia
  • Sri Lanka
  • Syria
  • Venezuela
  • Vietnam

Visa not required

  • Albania (90 days)
  • Algeria (90 days)
  • Andorra (90 days)
  • Argentina (90 days)
  • Armenia (90 days)
  • Australia (90 days)
  • Austria (90 days)
  • Azerbaijan (90 days)
  • Bahamas (90 days)
  • Bahrain (90 days)
  • Barbados (90 days)
  • Belarus (90 days)
  • Belgium (90 days)
  • Belize (90 days)
  • Benin (90 days)
  • Bhutan (90 days)
  • Bolivia (90 days)
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina (90 days)
  • Botswana (90 days)
  • Brazil (90 days)
  • Brunei (90 days)
  • Bulgaria (90 days)
  • Burkina Faso (90 days)
  • Burundi (90 days)
  • Cambodia (90 days)
  • Canada (90 days)
  • Cape Verde (90 days)
  • Central African Republic (90 days)
  • Chad (90 days)
  • Chile (180 days)
  • China (90 days)
  • Colombia (90 days)
  • Comoros (90 days)
  • Costa Rica (90 days)
  • Cyprus (90 days)
  • Czech Republic (90 days)
  • Denmark (90 days)
  • Djibouti (90 days)
  • Dominica (90 days)
  • Dominican Republic (90 days)
  • El Salvador (90 days)
  • Equatorial Guinea (90 days)
  • Estonia (90 days)
  • Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) (90 days)
  • Fiji (90 days)
  • Finland (90 days)
  • France (90 days)
  • Gabon (90 days)
  • Georgia (90 days)
  • Germany (90 days)
  • Greece (90 days)
  • Grenada (90 days)
  • Guatemala (90 days)
  • Guinea-Bissau (90 days)
  • Guyana (90 days)
  • Honduras (90 days)
  • Hong Kong (90 days)
  • Hungary (90 days)
  • Iceland (90 days)
  • Indonesia (90 days)
  • Ireland (90 days)
  • Israel (90 days)
  • Italy (90 days)
  • Jamaica (90 days)
  • Japan (90 days)
  • Jordan (90 days)
  • Kazakhstan (90 days)
  • Kiribati (90 days)
  • Kuwait (90 days)
  • Kyrgyzstan (90 days)
  • Laos (90 days)
  • Latvia (90 days)
  • Lebanon (90 days within 180 days)
  • Lesotho (90 days)
  • Liberia (90 days)
  • Liechtenstein (90 days)
  • Lithuania (90 days)
  • Luxembourg (90 days)
  • Macau (90 days)
  • Macedonia [FYROM] (90 days)
  • Madagascar (90 days)
  • Malawi (90 days)
  • Malaysia (90 days)
  • Maldives (90 days)
  • Malta (90 days)
  • Marshall Islands (90 days)
  • Mauritania (90 days)
  • Mauritius (90 days)
  • Mexico (90 days)
  • Micronesia (90 days)
  • Moldova (90 days)
  • Monaco (90 days)
  • Mongolia (90 days)
  • Montenegro
  • Morocco (90 days)
  • Mozambique (90 days)
  • Namibia (90 days)
  • Nauru (90 days)
  • Netherlands (90 days)
  • New Zealand (90 days)
  • Nicaragua (90 days)
  • Niger (90 days)
  • Norway (90 days)
  • Oman (90 days)
  • Palau (90 days)
  • Panama (90 days)
  • Papua New Guinea (90 days)
  • Paraguay (90 days)
  • Peru (180 days)
  • Poland (90 days)
  • Portugal (90 days)
  • Qatar (90 days)
  • Romania (90 days)
  • Russia (90 days)
  • Rwanda (90 days)
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis (90 days)
  • Saint Lucia (90 days)
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (90 days)
  • Samoa (90 days)
  • San Marino (90 days)
  • São Tomé and Príncipe (90 days)
  • Saudi Arabia (90 days)
  • Serbia (90 days)
  • Seychelles (90 days)
  • Sierra Leone (90 days)
  • Singapore (90 days)
  • Slovakia (90 days)
  • Slovenia (90 days)
  • Solomon Islands (90 days)
  • South Africa (90 days)
  • South Korea (90 days)
  • Spain (90 days)
  • Sudan (90 days)
  • Suriname (90 days)
  • Sweden (90 days)
  • Switzerland (90 days)
  • Tajikistan (90 days)
  • Tanzania (90 days)
  • Thailand (90 days)
  • Timor-Leste (90 days)
  • Togo (90 days)
  • Tonga (90 days)
  • Trinidad and Tobago (90 days)
  • Tunisia (90 days)
  • Turkey (90 days)
  • Turkmenistan (90 days)
  • Tuvalu (90 days)
  • Uganda (90 days)
  • Ukraine (90 days)
  • United Arab Emirates (90 days)
  • United Kingdom (90 days)
  • Uruguay (90 days)
  • Uzbekistan (90 days)
  • Vanuatu (90 days)
  • Vatican City (90 days)
  • Yemen (90 days)
  • Zambia (90 days)
  • Zimbabwe (90 days)

Visa free access

  • Croatia

Visa Requirements for Ecuador Citizens

References